January

Not exactly a month that showcases Britain at its finest, but few people decide to holiday in January. Understandable, as it could just be delaying the inevitable return to work, but consider some of the places that are at their absolute best in January. There’s the Caribbean, Australia (turtle hatchling season on Ningaloo Reef) and New Zealand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Latin America… The list goes on.

And speaking of Latin America, Cartagena and Hay-on-Wye might not be a pair of places you’d necessarily expect to hear mentioned in the same sentence, but the hugely popular literary festival from the genteel English town has been successfully transplanted to the chic cobble streets of Colombia’s Cartagena this month.

Closer to home, Christmas is freezing and Easter is packed, so the sensible skier packs his or her bags and heads for the slopes in January on a ski holiday. You’re far more likely to find good value accommodation and you can be sure there won’t be any behelmeted six year-old cannonballs descending at warp speed to knock you over.

Britain in January might be the perfect illustration of the old Scots term dreich, meaning dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and generally miserable weather. Not so in the southern hemisphere.

Tom, Original Traveller

Our favourites for January

Caribbean

Original Travel knows the region well, and can recommend the highlights from the best bars in Havana to the best dive sites in the British Virgin Islands, and everything in between.

Sri Lanka

Latin America & Antarctica

Latin America is a destination on the up thanks to an enticing
blend of attractions and a new found place in the public
consciousness. Whatever you are hoping for we will have a spot-on
suggestion. Want breathtaking landscapes? We can advise on some
that may render your jaw duly dropped, such as the pampas of
Argentina or glaciers in Chile.